Discography of Final Fantasy XI

The music of the MMORPG "Final Fantasy XI" was composed by Naoshi Mizuta along with regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu and Kumi Tanioka. The "Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack", a compilation of almost all of the music in the game, was released by DigiCube in 2002, and subsequently re-released by Square Enix in 2004. "Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack" was released by DigiCube in 2003 after the release of the "Rise of the Zilart" expansion for "Final Fantasy XI", and re-released by Square Enix in 2004. "Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack" was produced by Square Enix in 2004 after the release of the "Chains of Promathia" expansion, and in 2005 Square Enix published "Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel", a collection of arranged tracks from the game performed by "The Star Onions", a group composed of Square Enix composers including Naoshi Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka and Hidenori Iwasaki. "Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack" was released by Square Enix in 2006 for the "Treasures of Aht Urhgan" expansion.

In 2007, Square Enix released the "Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box", a collection of all of the previously released albums, as well as the as yet unreleased "Final Fantasy XI Unreleased Tracks" and "Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI", an album of unreleased music from the game and its expansions and an album of piano arrangements of music from the game, respectively. After the release of the fourth expansion for the game, "Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess Original Soundtrack" was released in 2008 by Square Enix. Additionally, in summer 2008 another "Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI" album, completely separate from the previous piano collections album, will be released by Square Enix.

The music has received mixed reviews; while reviewers have praised some of the associated albums such as "Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack" and "Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack", other albums, such as "Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack" and "Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel", were not as universally liked. Several songs, especially "Distant Worlds", remain popular today, and have been performed numerous times in orchestral concert series, as well as been published in arranged and compilation albums by Square as well as outside groups.

Creation and influence

The music of "Final Fantasy XI" was scored by Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Kumi Tanioka.cite web | author=Gann, Patrick| title=Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart OST | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11-zilart/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-28] Composer Yasunori Mitsuda was also asked to contribute, but he was busy scoring "Xenosaga".cite web |author=Van, Tim| title=Final Fantasy XI OST| publisher=RPGFan | date=2007-01-01| url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11/index.html | accessdate=2006-02-24] The expansion packs were scored by Mizuta alone after Tanioka left to pursue other projects and Uematsu left Square Enix, although their names remain in the credits for those albums due to the inclusion of versions of songs they had previously composed for the game. The opening of the game features choral music with lyrics in Esperanto. According to Uematsu, the choice of language was meant to symbolize the developers' hope that their online game could contribute to cross-cultural communication and cooperation. He also noted the increased difficulty of scoring a game for which there was no linear plotline, a major change from the previous "Final Fantasy" games. It was the first game in the series for which he composed while he was no longer a Square employee. [cite web |author=Fahey, Rob | title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu| publisher=Gamesindustry.biz | date=2005-02-25 | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7033 | accessdate=2006-08-15] New music has been employed for special events, such as a holiday score titled "Jeuno -Starlight Celebration-" which can be heard in the city of Jeuno each mid to late December since 2004. Some of the game's music has been released on iTunes for download, such as the vocal "Distant Worlds", which was released on the Japanese iTunes Music Store on September 13, 2005, having been put in the game in a July 2005 patch. [cite web |author=IGN Music| title=Final Fantasy Soundtracks| publisher=IGN | date=2005-05-10 | url=http://music.ign.com/articles/611/611637p1.html|accessdate=2006-08-15]

Albums

"Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack"

Infobox Album
Name = Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack
Type = Album
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Kumi Tanioka


Released = June 5, 2002 May 10, 2004 (re-release)
Recorded =
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = Disk 1: 56:01 Disk 2: 55:56
Label = DigiCube Square Enix (re-release)
Producer = Nobuo Uematsu
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album ="Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack" is the soundtrack album of "Final Fantasy XI". The album contains musical tracks from the game, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Kumi Tanioka. The soundtrack was released on June 5, 2002 by DigiCube with the catalog numbers "SSCX-10069-70", and re-released on May 10, 2004 by Square Enix with the catalog numbers "SQEX-10017-8". The album spans 51 tracks over two disks and covers a duration of 1:51:57.cite web | author=Maas, Liz; Schweitzer, Ben; Van, Tim; Winkler, Chris| title=Final Fantasy XI OST | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-28]

Track listingTaken from the album's iTunes release. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.]

"Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack"

Infobox Album | Name = Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack
Type = Album
Artist = Naoshi Mizuta


Released = November 17, 2004
Recorded =
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = 78:20
Label = Square Enix
Producer = | Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =
"Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack" is a soundtrack album of the "Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia" expansion. The album contains musical tracks from the game, composed by Naoshi Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka, and Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka. The soundtrack was released on November 17, 2004 by Square Enix with the catalog number "SQEX-10041". It covers a duration of 78:20 over 24 tracks.cite web | author=Gann, Patrick| title=Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia OST | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11-promathia/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-28]

"Final Fantasy XI Unreleased Tracks"

Infobox Album | Name = Final Fantasy XI Unreleased Tracks
Type = Album
Artist = Naoshi Mizuta


Released = March 28, 2007
Recorded =
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = 50:43
Label = Square Enix
Producer = | Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =
"Final Fantasy XI Unreleased Tracks" is a collection of "Final Fantasy XI" music composed by Naoshi Mizuta that had not been released as part of any of the official albums for "Final Fantasy XI" or its expansions. It spans 18 tracks and covers a duration of 50:43. It has not been released as a single album, but rather can only be found as part of the "Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box", which was released on March 28, 2007, by Square Enix with the catalog number "SQEX-10093".cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Final Fantasy XI OST Premium Box | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11-box/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-28]

"Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI" (2008)

Infobox Album | Name = Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI
Type = Album
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta


Released = June 25, 2008
Recorded = Sony Music Studios Tokyo
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = 41:30
Label = Square Enix
Producer = Naoshi Mizuta | Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =
"Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI" is a collection of "Final Fantasy XI" music composed by Nobuo Uematsu and Naoshi Mizuta, arranged for the piano by Kaoru Ishikawa, and performed by Ayumi Iga and Kasumi Oga. It spans 11 tracks and covers a duration of 41:30. Although it has the same name as the album from the "Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box", it is an entirely separate album. It was released on June 25, 2008 by Square Enix with the catalog number "SQEX-10117".cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff11-piano/index.html | accessdate=2008-07-11]

Reception and legacy

"Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack" received mixed reviews by critics, with Ben Schweitzer of RPGFan finding it to be a "strong" album, if "slower" and "more repetitive than previous Final Fantasy scores". Liz Maas of RPGFan enjoyed the album, advising any fan of the series, even if not of the game itself, to buy the album. Joe Schwebke of Soundtrack Central, on the other hand, found it to be "a collection of bland melodies, dull chord progressions, and aged tapestries of musical technique" and, while praising the sound quality, termed it overall a "disappointment". [cite web | author=Schwebke, Joe | title=Final Fantasy 11 Original Soundtrack | publisher=Soundtrack Central | date=2003-04-02| url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/cds/finalfantasy11_ost.htm | accessdate=2008-06-04] Chris of Square Enix Music Online, however, felt that while it was "not instantly likable" that it had "the potential to become a favorite with multiple listens". [cite web | author=Chris | title=Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack: Review by Chris | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ff11.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-04]

"Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack" was well received by critics such as Patrick Gann of RPGFan, who called it "a solid OST" of "well-developed compositions". Chris of Square Enix Music Online agreed, terming it "a very well-produced soundtrack" and "a consistent and fitting effort". [cite web | author=Chris | title=Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack: Review by Chris | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ff11zilart.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-04] Unlike the first expansion soundtrack, "Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack" was not received well by critics. Patrick Gann expressed himself as "disappointed" and said that the album was full of "boring, repetitive string-work" instead of Mizuta's usual "strong, raw instrumentation". Chris of Square Enix Music Online termed it "the least accessible Final Fantasy XI soundtrack" and disliked its "grating synth use", but also termed it "an excellent in-game accompaniment". [cite web | author=Chris | title=Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack: Review by Chris | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ff11promathia.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-04] "Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel" received widely varied reviews by critics. Mike Wilson of RPGFan termed it a "high caliber soundtrack" and said that it was full of "extremely well done" tracks. Ryan Mattich of RPGFan was slightly less impressed, saying that while "each track is a masterpiece", that the album as a whole lacked cohesion. Chris of Square Enix Music Online was much harsher towards the album, finding it to be "fundamentally flawed" due to a lack of coherence and disliked several of the tracks, especially the ones arranged by Mizuta. [cite web | author=Chris | title=Final Fantasy XI - Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel: Review by Chris | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ff11arr.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-04] "Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack" was well received by critics, with Patrick Gann describing it as "wonderful", and saying that "nearly every song has its own memorable feel". Chris of Square Enix Music Online agreed, terming it "a solid mixture of continuity and change". [cite web | author=Chris | title=Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack: Review by Chris | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ff11urhgan.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-04]

"Final Fantasy XI Unreleased Tracks" was well received by critics such as Patrick Gann, who said that it was an album full of "interesting pieces". The "Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI" included with it in the "Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box" received varied reviews by critics. Patrick Gann termed it "excellent" and praised the technical skills of the performers, though he disliked the short length of the album. Jillian of Square Enix Music Online, on the other hand, was "disappointed" with the album, finding the arrangements to be "simplistic" and the performances, while good technically, to be lacking in passion. [cite web | author=Jillian | title=Final Fantasy XI Premium Box Piano Collections: Review by Jillian | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/jillian/ff11boxpc.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-05] "Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess Original Soundtrack" received mixed reviews from reviewers, with Patrick Gann saying that "It is consistently good, but rarely is it mind-blowing". He did, however, praise Mizuta, saying that "Mizuta has grown...to the point where I imagine he can take on nearly any project". "Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI" was well received by critics, with Patrick Gann praising its "high-quality arrangements, and extremely high-quality recording and production value".

The Black Mages, a band led by Nobuo Uematsu that arranges music from "Final Fantasy" video games into a rock music style, have arranged "Distant Worlds" in the album ', published in 2008. [(March 19, 2008). "The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight". Sony Music Distribution. DERP-10002] Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces in his "Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy" concert series. [cite web | author=Schnieder, Peer | title=Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy | publisher=IGN | date=2005-05-11| url=http://music.ign.com/articles/513/513292p1.html | accessdate=2006-03-01] The music of "Final Fantasy XI" has also appeared in various official concerts and live albums, such as the "Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy" concert tour, where "Opening Theme" and "Distant Worlds" were performed as a medley by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, [cite web|url= http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/f/ffdistantworlds.shtml|title=Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy - Album Information |publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-02-22] while "Ronfaure" was performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in the ' concert series. [cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/dvds/tourdejapon.shtml|title=Album Information - Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy DVD|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-02-22] Selections of music from "Final Fantasy XI" also appear on Japanese remix albums, called dōjin music, and on English remixing websites. [cite web | title=Sony Playstation 2 Music - A-F | url=http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/sony/ps2/index-af.html | publisher=VGMusic.com | accessdate=2008-04-01]

References

External links

* [http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/ Nobuo Uematsu's official website]
* [http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/onion/index.html The Star Onions official website (Japanese)]
* [http://na.square-enix.com/music/tunes/ff/ Square Enix's official music store]